The sand timer, p.5
The Sand Timer, page 5
Graves wherever she looked. Rectangular surfaces under which the bones of long forgotten people were rotting away. She didn’t want to admit any memories, but memories never asked permission to enter. They simply came and went whenever they felt like it, smashing loudly through walls or slipping quietly in through the back door. It made no odds which way – a memory had tracked her down – her first experience of a grave. Or at least the first one that she could remember.
It had been during her second year in the Establishment. A sixteen-year-old lad had stuck a knife into the back of one of the educators. Although the lad had been bullied by the man from one end of the day to the other, the black chancellor hadn’t hesitated. A clear case that demanded the ultimate penalty. The punishment was simple and practical. The culprit had to dig a grave behind the main house. A rectangular hole. A cosy fit. Once the digging was complete, he had been tossed in, bound and naked. All the members of the august Establishment had gathered to pay their last respects to the fellow. Slowly but surely, he was buried alive. Two of the educators threw shovelful after shovelful onto the shivering body. Black earth slapping onto white skin.
The children standing around the hole were not allowed to avert their gaze. The chancellor instructed the educators to slow down their shovelling and to concentrate first on the arms and legs. Anyone could die quickly, but that would be boring.
The boy began to scream as the gravity and hopelessness of his horizontal orientation dawned on him. But the portions of good mother earth continued their ascent to his breathing passageways. When only his face was left peeking up, the black chancellor roared. He had to roar particularly loudly to drown out the pleading screams of the lad: ‘THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOT ATTACK YOUR EDUCATORS!’
At the time she had silently added: ‘And you allow yourselves to get caught.’
The boy continued to scream in terror. More shovelfuls of earth were thrown mercilessly on his head. What happened next was the most dreadful moment of this memory: his head was already covered by earth, and yet everyone could still hear his muffled cry. If gazing mindlessly into space had worked at all up until that point, listening mindlessly into space was completely ineffective.
The screaming stopped abruptly. Some of the educators grinned. The children stood there, frozen, until one young lad collapsed.
The black chancellor had a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
But she had to hand it to him. Some years later, he himself had impressively proven how long such a death struggle could last if you put a bit of effort into it.
She remembered the pit. It was similar to a grave. More than once she had lain within its pitch-black confines. After she had destroyed the Establishment, she had locked the black chancellor inside it. For many days he had been able to nourish himself on tasty rats and dripping rainwater until he had finally starved to death.
Anyone could die quickly.
Nika roused herself from her reverie. She found herself in a gigantic Soradian graveyard and wondered if what had happened then seemed more gruesome now than when it had unfolded. Had she been completely withdrawn as a young girl? Had it been self-protection? Or had she become softer and more compassionate in the meantime? Stuff and nonsense! She was harder than ever now. Not withdrawn but simply drawn to act! To do anything! Ha!
A labyrinth of pathways, zigzagging their way between the vaults. How were they going to find the right place to dig for the artefact among all this confusion? Would the smarty-pants prince have a brainwave? She decided to make her way back. Now she knew what to expect here. The main thing was to avoid those men. She really didn’t like those five Soradians.
She climbed back over the wall. What was up? It was slowly getting bright. Had she really spent that much time on her reconnoitring? A quick check to confirm that even butterfingers Karek would have no problem climbing over – the ivy provided plenty of options. She quickened her step, for she hadn’t planned on spending so much time away from these children. She comforted herself with the thought that no matter what you could say about Karek, you could never accuse him of being stupid. Which meant that he would certainly never do stupid things. A doubt nibbled at her mental scaffolding. Who was the cleverest person that she knew? Simple answer. Herself, of course. And had she ever done anything stupid? Simple answer. Yes. Every day for weeks now, time and again – otherwise, she wouldn’t be here now, scurrying back to the good-for-nothing striplings. Ergo: Cleverness is no defence against stupidity! Logical!
She picked up the pace.
The sound of men laughing – raw and throaty, like dogs. Immediately, she was on the ground and stalking forward through the undergrowth, resembling a feline predator – only quieter. It was bright by now – if she didn’t want to be caught, then she couldn’t creep any closer. She concentrated on listening. Of course – now she could hear Karek’s voice among the others. The oaf had walked into a trap. Why wasn’t she surprised?
wee Goldilocks
Belch roused up his crew. ‘Come on, let’s make ourselves scarce. We’ll head to the coast and see what the good old ocean has to offer. I long for the sea air and the tang of salt water.’
Karek did his best to remain impassive. Belch’s plan meant that they would run straight into Brawl, Eduk and Impy – it would all end in tears. Anyway, they wanted to go in the opposite direction. The prince flinched when he noticed that Belch was eyeing him keenly. While his men were stuffing their few belongings into greasy leather bags, their leader was standing in the middle of the encampment, watching the goings on with an eagle eye.
Blinn bumped against Karek as they headed off. They couldn’t go fast, thanks to both of their ankles being fettered. Belch was beside them before Blinn had a chance to apologise.
‘Well, my new buddies, Fat and Scar.’ He grinned in the way that lions would grin if they could grin. ‘How many pals do ye have in the east?’
Before Blinn and Karek could even think of putting on a we-have-no-idea-what-you’re-talking-about-face, he continued: ‘Ye have exactly one chance to come out with the truth. If ye don’t, I’ll let Beard’s daggers take care of ye.’
He spoke menacingly but quietly, so that his companions wouldn’t hear him.
His words surprised Karek. Blinn, too, apparently, for he blurted out: ‘Friends east?’
Belch grinned leeringly. Quite a surprise that the dirt caked on his face didn’t crumble. ‘Yer drollery when it came to answering questions impressed me no end. Reading lips is quite the gift.’
Karek felt like giving himself a well-earned clip on the ear. He had made the mistake of reducing this man to a mud-caked face and a pretentious earring. He had been too quick to place him in the primitive and dull-witted pigeon hole of humanity.
I must never do that again. Underestimating your enemy means overestimating yourself. Always a big mistake.
Once again, he had to reach a decision quickly. He thought for an instant and decided. It felt as though he had spent half the morning contemplating, but experience had taught him that he had only been thinking for a fraction of a second.
Flee to the front!
‘We are here to dig up an artefact which lies about half a day’s march to the west. We are five companions, and the other three are camped a little to the east. They are the same age as us – and we are all cadets. As well as being now undesirables in Toladar.’
‘He truth,’ confirmed Blinn before adding: ‘He is telling the truth.’
What would Belch do now? Karek held his breath, Belch held back his men.
It was still dark, even if the first signs of sunrise could be seen in the east. The commander commanded quietly so that Karek couldn’t hear him. Mane slithered off to the south. Crouching down, he snaked his way soundlessly and seamlessly through the bushes.
Blinn whispered to the prince: ‘Did you have to tell him that about our comrades?’
‘Yes, I think I did. We would more than likely have stumbled across them anyway. I’m hoping that this will prevent far worse from happening. They won’t do anything to us as long as we don’t provoke them.’
‘You think…’ Blinn looked down at the rope. ‘We’re screwed as it is. Hopefully, Nika will be able to help us.’
Karek didn’t know what to say to that and changed the subject. ‘This Belch fellow isn’t half as stupid as he looks.’
‘You’re right, unfortunately.’
‘We must reduce the risk of conflict.’ Karek called out: ‘Belch – I have a proposal. Please.’
The big man came back to them. ‘What’s up, Fat.’
‘Our three companions are also cadets from Toladar, who cannot return there. This part of the story really is true. Let me get them. I don’t want a fight to develop where someone gets killed.’
‘You lied to me only a moment ago. Who says you’re telling the truth now.’
‘I am telling the truth.’ Karek fixed his eyes on the man. ‘I only wanted to save our skin and not betray my comrades earlier. You would have done the same for your people.’
‘Crap! I’d have carried each of these pathetic wretches to the scaffold if it meant saving my own skin.’
‘You fooled me earlier into underestimating you. Not anymore. You look after your men and protect them.’
A furrow appeared on the big man’s brow. He looked at Karek thoughtfully.
I think I’m seeing the real him for the first time.
‘And if that really is so, do you think you have to do the same?’ asked Belch.
‘Exactly, and more. I want to save everyone’s skin – including that of your men.’
‘How honourable,’ the Soradian replied, not without sarcasm. ‘But we can save our own skin, thank you very much. We don’t need you to rescue us. You think you’re a real smart arse, don’t you? But you’re only holding one pathetic trump card in your hand. Ye’re hardly more than children, and luckily for you, I like children, otherwise ye’d have been pushing up daisies long ago. We’ll have no problem catching your comrades like we did you two sprigs. We’ll kill ‘em if we have to. And if there are more, and you were lying again, then ye’ll all die.’
Belch turned and marched to the head of the group.
‘Well, you really hit the bullseye there. I must say. You do have everything under control,’ complained Blinn.
‘If you have a solution for our current predicament, then spit it out, Scar,’ growled Karek in response.
They moved slowly onward. Karek feverishly ran through in his head any remaining options available to them. He couldn’t come up with many.
‘Halt!’ Belch’s command was dry and definite.
Belch, Beard, Mane, Dick, Child, Blinn and Karek stared at the woman who had appeared from nowhere, roughly ten yards ahead of them. Out of the blue, as though she’d fallen from the sky, she was suddenly standing there, a dagger in one hand as she carved nonchalantly at a small piece of wood that she held in the other.
Belch looked at Beard in disbelief and Beard looked at Belch. Then both of them turned their eyes back to the woman in front of them.
She had straight hair down to her chin. She wasn’t tall, she wasn’t small. She wore tight-fitting leather clothing. She stood there, dropped the piece of wood and folded her arms. She had her right leg slightly angled and a bored look on her face, as though she were waiting for the river ferry to carry her across the Karpane river. Karek knew that the woman had been calling herself Nika of late.
She spoke in a low voice: ‘What’s going on here?’ She pointed towards Blinn and Karek. ‘You have something that belongs to me.’
Belch bowed briefly as Beard prepared to throw himself at the woman, his dagger drawn. Belch made a tiny sideways gesture with his forefinger, his pal glaring, but staying put.
‘Who or what are you, wee Goldilocks?’
Black eyes peered at Belch’s mud-caked face. ‘Hey, Golem. That’s none of your or your mud-caked face’s concern. Give me the striplings and toddle off like a good wee fellah.’
Belch’s big mouth spread into a smile as broad as his shoulders. ‘A woman after my own heart. Beautiful and brave.’ He turned to his men and winked. ‘Perhaps a little too beautiful and brave.’
Then he eyed the woman again. ‘What will happen if I turn down your politely delivered request?’
She stuck her dagger back into her belt. ‘Then I will kill you. You and the others.’
‘The fight cannot be fair. We are four and you are one. Why do you challenge us so openly?’
‘So that the fight will be fairer, you being only four.’
Karek’s mind was racing as he tried to think of what he could do or say to prevent disaster.
***
She stared at the men. Clay Head seemed to be their leader. There was something dangerous about him – she would have to keep a special eye on him. In other words, he should be the first to die. What had he called her? Wee Goldilocks? No man had ever managed to do that before – insult her in such a manner with a mere two words. Her hair was not blond, but as black as a crow’s plumage. And it was as smooth as the lake in the Raven Forest when there was no wind. And to top it all, he had used the cutesy word wee. If there was one thing she wasn’t, it was cute. Interesting to hear what he’ll have to say about the wee hole that her wee knife will make in him.
The ugly lad with the full beard had been eager to attack. Pity that the clay klutz had whistled him back. She needed to separate the men – it would be a tricky enough fight with them all bunched up like that. And, there were five, in fact. A guy with hair so long he could wipe his arse with it had just turned up – he’d probably been scouting – and now he was trying to creep up on her from behind. Honestly, how stupid could people be?
Karek called out in a firm voice: ‘Belch, hold your horses. We are peaceful and do not wish to fight.’
‘Ye have no weapons and yer legs are fettered. In such a case, it’s very easy to preach the virtues of peace.’ He looked at Karek. ‘And you fibbed again. ‘You made no mention of a fair maid.’
The prince replied: ‘I told the truth. You asked about my comrades to the east – the fair maid is to the west.’
‘Yes, that is how ye oily Toladarians always play with the truth.’ He turned to her again. ‘Listen to me now, wee Goldilocks. Lay down your weapons and…’
She knew full well that he was merely distracting her so that she wouldn’t realise what was happening behind her back. The long-haired lad was getting closer. Four steps, three steps. She dropped down, knocked him off his feet with a well-aimed kick of her right foot, and within the blink of an eye, she had her dagger at his throat before anyone had the chance to even say ‘yikes’.
‘As I have already stated – you are only four.’ At that she slammed the hilt of her dagger into a particular point on the long-haired lad’s temple. He crumpled into a heap on the ground. ‘He isn’t dead – only sleeping for as long as it takes me to deal with the rest of you heroes.’
Belch’s eyebrows fought their way upwards through the mud. ‘You are fast and well-practised, wee Goldilocks. Yet you are still only one against four men, all of whom are skilled in the arts of war. You will die – hence, be reasonable.’
‘Occupational hazard. Out of you four, I am sure to kill two, more like three. You seem to be the leader and most dangerous of your merry band. So, I will start with you, Golem. Tell me this – who should I concentrate on next, once I’ve turned you into fish food?’
She had him now. For the first time it seemed Golem was going to blow his top. But then the fellow grinned again and even managed to whistle through his teeth. She sensed how he was calculating the danger he was facing with a practised eye. The clay on his face was a mere masquerade – this man possessed qualities that made him more than dangerous.
He called over to her. ‘Lay down your dagger. And all the other weapons that you are no doubt carrying on your person. Regarding these two whippersnappers – we haven’t touched a hair on their heads. This proves to you that we are not bloodthirsty. Our meeting need not end in a bloodbath.’
***
Karek sensed that a fight was imminent. There would be deaths. Lives extinguished once again, inevitably and unnecessarily. And it might well be the case that Blinn and himself would be the first to feed the fish.
At that moment she said: ‘Come out and stand behind me.’
Brawl, Eduk and Impy appeared behind her. No wonder that the three had found them. After all, they had been palavering here more loudly than the high gentry after the fifth course of a celebratory banquet.
‘Now we are four against four,’ she summarised. ‘Not that I would have needed help, but now all five of you will certainly die.’
Karek bit his lower lip. The morning air crackled like a campfire.
‘Slow down there, wee Goldilocks.’ Belch seemed to still be in control of the situation, despite her reinforcements. The prince had to hand him that.
Now it was Brawl’s turn to throw in his tuppence ha’penny worth. ‘Let’s stop blah-blah-blahing and smash their gobs in.’ As if to underline his words, he held his sword upright before him.
Beard came to life. ‘Hey, Belch. Look at that wise guy’s sword. Isn’t that Garemalan’s blade?’
Belch’s eyes grew wider. ‘You’re right! How come you have the weapon of Garemalan, the Great Swordmaster?’
This was getting them nowhere. Karek groaned, anticipating the woman’s response.
It’s none of your business, Golem.
Nika said: ‘Garemalan was the trainer to these boys. Now he is dead. A victim of treachery.’
It was true. But now she was speaking diplomatically. What had happened to her?
‘All lies!’ It was Beard throwing his weight around. ‘The jade warrior has been dead for years. And if he was alive, there’s no way he’d be training greenhorns.’
Brawl asked angrily: ‘Who’s lying now? Garemalan was alive until a few days ago. We had to bury him here on the coast. He bequeathed me his sword just before he died.’
